Latch



A. DATKIN May 13, 1941.

LATCH Filed Sept. 29, 1939 ll Illial'i". l||||ll.

lllllllllllllufi f Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH Alexander Datkin, Westbury, N. Y.

Application September 29, 1939, Serial No. 297,167

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved latch and seeks, as one of its principal objects, to provide a device of this character which may be readily attached to window screens, or the like, for automatically fastening said screens of windows in a closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch which may be easily installed and which will be operated by the weight of a swinging screen or window for fastening said screen or window in a closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch having a latch member which is of such formation that the window screen will be properly positioned in the window as it moves to latched position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch wherein means are employed for effecting quick release of the latch member for permitting swinging of the window screen or the like to open position.

As a still further object, the invention seeks to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction, which may be quickly and easily installed and which may be manufactured cheaply.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not pointed out hereinbefore will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of my application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing my improved latch as it would appear installed on a window and window screen,

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the latch member employed,

Figure 3 is an end view of the latch member,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the keeper mechanism,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of said keeper mechanism taken longitudinally, and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the various views, the numeral l indicates in general a window casing which is of any approved ccnstrucwindow screen frames or other closures or partial closures.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a keeper mechanism which is indicated in general by the numeral 5. The keeper mechanism 5 includes a substantially rectangular, preferably sheet metal, housing 6 which is formed with a top wall I and end walls 8 and 9. The housing is also formed with a front wall 9 having an opening 8* therein. Mounting flanges l0 and H are carried by the corresponding lower ends of the walls 8 and 9 and are each formed with a lateral slot 12. The slots l2 are adapted for receiving fastening devices therethrough and, in view of the fact that said slots are elongated, it will be possible to shift the housing to desired adjusted positions on the sill 3.

Mounted on the end walls 8 and 9 of the housing 6 and disposed in longitudinal opposed alinement are plunger supporting sleeves I 3 and I4. The sleeves I3 and I4 are each identical so that a description of one will suffice for both. The sleeve I3, for example, includes a cylindrical portion 15 which, as best seen in Figure 4, terminates in an inwardly directed flange It. The cylindrical portion I5 is connected with the end wall of the housing by means of a flared portion 11. A bayonet slot I8 is formed in the cylindrical portion 15 and extends throughout the major portion of the length of said portion.

Mounted in the supporting sleeves l3 and M are keeper plungers l9 and 29 which are of identical construction. The keeper plunger IQ, for example, has a straight portion 2| which terminates in a beveled end face 22. The opposite end of the plunger i9 is enlarged to define a stop flange which defines a head 23 which is slidably mounted within the cylindrical portion l5 and is limited in its forward movement by the flange [6. As best seen in Figure 6 of the drawing, the head 23 has an operating tongue 24 which extends upwardly through the bayonet slot l8 to each of the sleeves I3 and M. The operating tongue 24 is enlarged and bifurcated to define a yoke 25, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

The keeper plungers l9 and 20 are normally urged toward each other by means of coiled springs 26, one of which is mounted in each of the sleeves I3 and I4 between the head 23 of the plunger in said sleeve and the associated end Wall. The plungers l9 and 20 are so mounted that their beveled end faces 22 are disposed in confronting relation to define a substantially V-shaped path for the detent of the latch member to be described hereinafter.

As stated, the springs 26 normally urge the plungers to their innermost extremities. However, means is provided for retracting the plungers against the tension of the springs. This means comprises operating levers 21 and 28 which include arms 29 and 30 having slotted end portions 3| which are, as best seen in Figure 6, anchored, by means of pins 32, in the yokes 25. The cooperating levers are pivotally connected to each other and to ears 33, fastened on the under side of the top wall 1 substantially medially of its length and width, by a pintle 34. Each of the levers 21 and 28 includes a manually engageable portion 35 which extends upwardly through an opening 36 formed in the top wall 1 above the cars 33. As best seen in Figures and 6, the manually engageable portions are enlarged and are disposed so as to insure convenient manual engagement. It will be seen that, by compressing the manually engageable portions toward each other, the arms 29 and 30 will be raised for effecting rearwardly sliding movement of the pins 32, and consequently the plungers which carry said pins. In this manner, the plungers may be separated.

In order to cooperate with the keeper mechanism 5 for fastening a screen or the like in closed position, I provide a latch member 31. The latch member 3! is preferably formed of cast metal and includes a base 38 of rectangular outline. The base 38 ha longitudinally disposed slots 39 formed in each end thereof, which slots receive fastening devices therethrough for permitting fastening of the latch member on the inner surface of the lower rail of the screen. In view of the fact that the slots are provided, adjustment of the latch member on the screen may be effected as desired. The latch member includes a body portion 40 which is of substantially frusto-pyramidal shape, said body portion terminating in a pyramidal shaped detent 4|. The detent 4i cooperates with the body portion 40 to define retaining shoulders 42, and said detent has an apex 43.

It is believed that the operation of my improved latch may be understood from the foregoing description. It is deemed advisable, however, to discuss the operation briefly so that there will be no question as to how the invention operates.

As previously described, the latch is first installed as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. That is to say, the keeper mechanism 5 is mounted on the sill 3 and the latch member 31 is located on the screen or window in such a position that, when the screen swings toward closed position, the latch member will be engageable in the keeper mechanism. Let it be assumed that the screen is open and is swinging to a closed position, the weight of the swinging screen will cause the detent to pass through the opening 9 and cause the latch member to force the keeper plungers 9 and 20 apart against the tension of the springs 26. As clearly seen in dotted lines in Figure 4, after the screen has swung to its full closed position, the detent M will be located with the rear end portions of the plungers I9 and 20, which have been urged toward each other after clearing of the detent, in engagement behind the retaining shoulders 42. The plungers will effectively retain the latch member in locked position and thus retain the screen against accidental outward shifting movement.

When it is desired to open the screen, it is only necessary to grasp the manually engageable portions 35 and shift them toward each other. The cooperating levers 21 and 28 will shift the plungers l9 and 20 so that their opposed end portions will free the detent. The screen may then be pushed to open position.

It is desired to point out that, in view of the fact that the cooperating levers are losely mounted, if desired, the manually engageable portions may be rocked laterally, when in their full open position, for shifting the operating tongues 24 into the extremities of the bayonet slots l8, for holding the plungers retracted against the tension of the springs 26. This feature will be a particularly useful one when it is desired to move the screen to open position repeatedly within a short space of time. In other words, it will not be necessary to operate the levers 21 and 28 each time the screen is to be opened, unless it is desired to do so.

Attention is directed to the fact that, inasmuch as the plungers are provided with beveled end faces and the latch member is formed with the pyramidal detent, proper centering of the screen with respect to the window frame will be assured.

The construction of my improved latch is characterized by the utmost simplicity and durability, there being no parts to become loose or get out of order. Moreover, the annoyance and inconvenience caused by fumbling with hooks and eyes will be eliminated.

It is thought that further description of the invention is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a latch, keeper mechanism including a housing, means adjustably mounting the housing on a window sill, supporting sleeves mounted on the housing, keeper plungers mounted within the supporting sleeves for sliding movement therein, coiled springs mounted within the supporting sleeves and normally urging the plungers toward each other, said plungers having beveled end faces, cooperating levers carried by the housing, said levers having corresponding portions pivotally connected with each other and the housing and having means engageable with the plungers, said levers also having manually engageable portions shiftable toward each other for shifting the plungers and freeing a latch member from engagement with said plungers.

2. In a latch, keeper mechanism including a housing having mounting flanges formed with lateral slots, means extending through the slots and adjustably mounting the housing on a window sill, supporting sleeves mounted within the housing and having cylindrical portions, keeper plungers slidably mounted in the cylindrical portion and having heads provided with operating tongues, coiled springs engageable between the heads and the housing and normally urging said plungers toward each other, said plungers having beveled end faces, said cylindrical portions having bayonet slots therein, cooperating levers carried by the housing and having arms engageable with the plungers, said cooperating levers having manually engageable portions engageable for shifting the plungers apart, said arms being shiftable laterally for engaging the tongues in the bayonet slots and retaining the plungers sepa' rated, and a latch member having a detent engageable behind the beveled end faces of the plungers in closed position.

[ ALEXANDER DATKIN. 

